Eruption at fimmvörðuháls, Iceland, April 7th - 8th, 2010

This was our first view of the Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) eruption: a long lava river coming from the fissure and moving down in the direction of Þórsmörk (Thorsmork)

Closer to the fissure with first view of the Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) eruption itself. At the right the still warm but inactive new crater hill from the first fissure that started on March 20th

Flying over the Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) crater

Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) crater seen from the south, and above the spot we got out of the helicopter

Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) crater from the south

To the east the lava was slowly pushing its way underneath the glacier. Geologists were taking photographs and samples at the edge

To the east the lava was slowly pushing its way underneath the glacier. Geologists were taking photographs and samples at the edge

To the east the lava was slowly pushing its way underneath the glacier. Geologists were taking photographs and samples at the edge

To the east the lava from Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) eruption was slowly pushing its way underneath the glacier.

Our first view of the Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) from the Eyjafjallajokull glacier as we got out of the helicopter. We just stood and watched for like half an hour before we went to see closer towards the lava stream

The Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) crater with lava being thrown up into the air. At the left far behind the crater a hiker

View towards Mýrdalsjökull (Katla volcano) as it shimmers in the heat over the Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) lava stream

Close-up on
Mýrdalsjökull (Katla volcano) as it shimmers in the heat over the Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) lava stream

The old filled up crater from
Fimmvörðuháls' (Fimmvorduhals') first fissure

Video footage of a beautiful funnel (vortex) formed over the old
Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) crater (available in full 1920x1080 HD on request)

A special fire truck which later tried to drive over the lava stream with water-cooled tires

The continuous cumulus cloud that formed over the active crater, due to the excessive heat from the
Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) fissure

Close-up of the lava being thrown into the air

long shutter speed photography showing lava tracks as it is thrown into the air

A new breakthrough of the lava into the glacier towards the west created giant steamclouds around sunset. At a given moment, the convection from it was intense enough to produce small hail over
Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals)

Video footage of the giant steam clouds (available in full 1920x1080 HD on request)

Close-up of the slowly sideways progressing lava stream towards the south of Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals) main crater. The whole mass, internally semi-fluid, progressed a few centimeters per minute. After the most downward tip broke into the glacier, the sideways movement slowed down significantly and much less rocks broke down.

Video footage of the sideways progression of the lava stream (available in full 1920x1080 HD on request)